Finding Local Customers Using YouTube

As smart phones saturate the market it comes as no surprise that more and more customers are doing their shopping here too. What might surprise you though is where they are getting started…YouTube. The huge video sharing site is where local business owners are finding more and more of their customers. So don’t be surprised if a customer calls you up saying “hey I was on YouTube and found you.”

Mobile and YouTube Go Hand in Hand

Over 50 percent of the videos played on the sharing site all come from mobile devices. This isn’t hard to conceive since videos are shared so often on social sites and people browse social sites from their phones. Videos are often watched during spare moments, the commute to and from work and when waiting in lines. Since YouTube is the second largest search engine, people don’t only go to the site for entertainment but to do research as well. If you’re target customers are millenials then you really need to pay attention and get a YouTube marketing strategy. YouTube reaches more viewers between the ages of 18-34 than any cable network.

While you may be sitting there thinking ‘what does any of this have to do with me, I run a local business my customers are nearby’. Let’s look at a local Calgary success story The Camera Store, located right here in town markets aggressively and successfully on YouTube. Check out their YouTube channel it has over 195K subscribers. What other medium has that kind of reach? What could you do with an audience of that many people?

YouTube and the “How to” video

One of the easiest ways to get a customer’s attention is with “how to” videos. YouTube is the ideal place to learn how to do things yourself. Attracting the attention of your market may be as simple as teaching them something.

There a few things you need to include in the video, make sure your logo is displayed prominently along with a strong call to action. In the description you have the opportunity to write more about your products and services along with the way for customers to reach you.

Make videos that coincide with your busy season, if you’re an accountant make a video of everything you need to get together for tax season.

To learn more of what YouTube marketing can do for you, have a look at the video below for even more marketing ideas.